Fountain comb



Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PAENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to fountain combs and has particular reference toa comb of this character provided with improved means for forciblyfeeding a liquid to the teeth thereof.

The invention comprehends a fountain comb which is so constructed andarranged as to provide a storage chamber for holding a supply of liquid,a discharge chamber provided with discharge ports through which theliquid is discharged tothe teeth, and a pump cylinder communicating withsaid chambers respectively with a piston mounted for reciprocatorymovement within said cylinder and normally urged in one direction andmanually moved in the opposite direction for pumping the liquid fromsaid storage chamber and forcing the same into the discharge chamber andthrough the discharge ports.

The invention more specifically comprehends in a comb of the indicatedcharacter, a pump including a pump cylinder having inlet and outletopenings communicating respectively with said supply and dischargechambers and provided with a check valve normally closing the inletopening and a piston provided with a liquid passageway therethrough andhaving va check valve for closing said passageway, said piston beingadapted upon reciprocation in said cylinder to draw the liquid from saidsupply chamber through said pump inlet and to force the same through thepiston passageway into the discharge chamber.

The invention further embodies a piston having heads at the oppositeends thereof and manipulating means intermediate said heads protrudingthrough an elongated guide slot in said comb for manually actuating saidpiston.

The invention further includes an air inlet valve normally closed toprevent escape of the liquid in said supply chamber and adapted to bemoved to open position for admitting air to the supply chamber bysuction created by the pumping of the liquid from said supply chamber.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made tothe following specilication and the accompanying drawing in which thereis illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a fountain combconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional View takenapproximately on the line 5s 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken approximately onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary Vertical sectional view through thecomb and air inlet valve.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the comb includesan elongated hollow body l!) provided with a row of teeth il extendingfrom one end of the body to the mid portion l2 thereof which is of areduced size and which, together with the forward end portion i3, is ofoval shape in cross sectional configuration so as to serve as a handle.

The body lll is also provided with a transverse partition i4 whichextends from the rear wall of the body to the forward end of the midportion l2 thereof so as to subdivide the interior of the body into aliquid supply chamber l5 and a liquid discharge chamber it and whichforms with the bottom wall of the mid portion l2 a cylindrical bore Ilin alignment with the discharge chamber I and located between the sameand the supply chamber l5. The discharge chamber IB extendssubstantially coextensive with the row of teeth ll and is provided withports I8 which open through the bottom wall thereof between adjacentpairs of comb teeth.

In order to provide means for feeding the liquid from the supply chamberl5 to the discharge chamber i6 and forcing the same through the ports I8onto the teeth, a longitudinally reciprocatory pump is arranged withinthe cylindrical bore l1. The said pump includes a pump cylinder I9 whichsnugly fits the bore il and is secured in position therein by a setscrew 2li. The cylinder Ill has its outlet end in communication with thedischarge chamber it and its inlet end protruding into the supplychamber l5. Secured within the inlet end is a valve casing 2l having anaxial bore 22 provided with a reduced inlet 23 which forms the pumpinlet and provides a valve seat Z4 for a ball valve element 25. Theinlet 23 is normally closed by a coiled expansion spring 26 positionedin the inner end of the bore 22 between the ball valve element 25 and apin 2l which extends through the walls of the cylinder i9 and securesthe valve casing 2l within the said cylinder.

Mounted within the cylinder l!! for longitudinal reciprocatory movementtherein is a piston 23 which includes a medial portion 29 having alongitudinally extending axial bore 32 provided with interiorly threadedenlarged openings 3l and 32 which are threadedly engaged by exteriorlythreaded headed studs 33 and 34. The said studs respectively securebetween the heads thereof and the ends of the medial portion 29 packingheads 35 and 36 to thereby provide a pump head at each end thereof. Thestuds 33 and 34 have bores therethrough which align with the bore 3G andform therewith a liquid passageway through the pump piston.

The enlarged opening 32 at its juncture with the bore 30 forms a valveseat 3l' and is provided with a ball valve element 33 adapted to seat onthe valve seat 3l for closing the passageway through the piston. Thepiston 2S is tensioned by a coiled expansion spring 33 positioned withinthe cylinder I9 between the outlet end thereof and the packing head 36for normally urging the piston towards the inlet end of the cylinder.The medial portion 29 of the piston 28 is provided with a pair ofoutwardly projecting manipulating studs 40 which protrude throughaligned longitudinally extending slots 4i in the cylinder i9 and sidewalls of the body Il), the heads 42 of which are adapted to be engagedby the fingers for effecting reciprocation of the piston 23 within thecylinder i9. The inlet end of the pump cylinder i9 has fitted thereovera tubing Ml which extends downwardly to dispose its inlet end adjacentthe bottom of the liquid chamber l5 so as to dispense and drain theentire contents of the chamber.

The forward end of the handle portion I3 of the body lil is providedwith a threaded lling opening 45 which is closed by a screw plug 46. Theopposite end of the body lil is provided with a bore 4l closed by ascrew plug :it and has an air inlet opening i9 located between a pair ofadjacent comb teeth with a port 5B opening into the supply chamber i5for admitting air into said chamber as the liquid is pumped therefrom.An inwardly opening, outwardly closing check valve is provided whichincludes a casing 5l fitted into 40 the bore 4l' and retained in placetherein by the plug 43. The casing is provided with a partition having aport 52 defining a valve seat with which a ball valve 53 is normallyengaged by means of a coiled expansion spring 54. The cas- 45 ing isalso provided with ports 55 and 53 which align with the inlet opening 49and the inlet port 50.

In operation the supply chamber i5 is charged with a quantity of aliquid by introducing the same through the charging opening i5 and re-55 tudinally of the pump cylinder I9.

placing the plug d5 to seal the said opening. The liquid is then fed tothe comb teeth by actua-ting the pump through the medium of themanipulator heads l2 to reciprocate the piston 28 longi- As the pistonis moved to the left, the valve element 25 is unseated so as to draw theliquid through the tube 44 and the inlet 23 into the pump cylinder,during which movement of the piston the check valve 38 is seated on itsseat 3l to close the passageway 3i] through the piston 28. The quantityof the liquid drawn into the cylinder between the piston and the checkvalve 25 is then forced through the passageway 3d by movement of thepiston to the right which movement opens the valve 38 and closes thevalve 25. The next succeeding movement of the piston 28 to the leftforces the liquid from the cylinder into the discharge chamber i@coincident with the drawing in of an additional quantity of liquidthrough the inlet 23. Repeated actuation of the piston 28 in like mannerwill supply the required quantity of the liquid through the ports i3onto the comb teeth.

What is claimed is:

l. In a fountain comb, a hollow body, a row of teeth projectingoutwardly along one portion thereof, the interior of said body forming aliquid supply chamber and a liquid discharge chamber, the outer wall ofsaid discharge chamber having ports opening between the teeth of saidrow, a pump cylinder having an outlet communicating with said dischargechamber and an inlet communicating with said supply chamber, a pistonmounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement within said pumpcylinder and having a passageway therethrough, a valve normally closingsaid inlet and adapted to be opened by movement of the piston in onedirection, and a valve adapted to open said passageway by movement ofthe piston in the opposite direction.

2. In a fountain comb, a hollow body, a row of teeth projectingoutwardly along one portion thereof, the interior of said body forming aliquid supply chamber and a liquid discharge chamber, the outer wall ofsaid discharge chamber having ports opening between the teeth of saidrow, a pump cylinder having an outlet communicating with said dischargechamber and a valved inlet communicating with said supply chamber, apiston mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said cylinder,said piston having heads at the opposite ends thereof and a valvedlongitudinal passageway therethrough, said cylinder having alongitudinally extending guide slot, and manipulating means intermediatethe heads of said piston protruding through said guide slot for manuallyactuating said piston.

3. In a fountain comb, a hollow body, a row of teeth projectingoutwardly along one portion thereof, the interior of said body forming aliquid supply chamber and a liquid discharge chamber, the outer wall ofsaid discharge chamber having ports opening between the teeth of saidrow, a pump cylinder having an outlet communicating with said dischargechamber and an inlet communicating with said supply chamber, a valvenormally closing said inlet. a piston having a passageway therethrough,and a valve adapted to close the same, said piston being mounted in saidcylinder for longitudinal reciprocatory movement for drawing the liquidfrom said supply chamber through said inlet and pump cylinder valve andfor forcing the same through said piston and piston valve and into saidliquid discharge chamber.

4. In a fountain comb, a hollow body, a row of teeth projectingoutwardly along one portion thereof, the interior of said body forming aliquid supply chamber and a liquid discharge chamber, the outer wall ofsaid discharge chamber having ports opening between the teeth of saidrow, a pump cylinder having an outlet communicating with said dischargechamber and an inlet communicating with said supply chamber, a pistonmounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement within said pumpcylinder and having a passageway therethrough, a valve normally closingsaid inlet and adapted to be opened by movement of the piston in onedirection, a valve adapted to open said passageway by movement of thepiston in the opposite direction7 and spring means acting upon saidpiston for urging the same in a direction so as to open said lastmentioned valve and to automatically discharge the liquid from the pumpcylinder into the discharge chamber and through the ports onto theteeth.

5. A fountain comb including a hollow body having a row of teethprojecting outwardly therefrom, said body being subdivided into a liquidstorage chamber and a liquid discharge chamber extending longitudinallyof said row of teeth and having longitudinally spaced discharge portsopening between the teeth of said row, a pump including a pump cylindercommunicating respectively at its opposite ends With said chambers, areciprocatory piston in said cylinder adapted to feed the liquid fromsaid supply chamber to said discharge chamber and through said dischargeports onto the teeth, and manipulating means connected with said pistonand protruding through said cylinder and exposed on opposite sides ofthe body for actuating said pump cylinder.

6. In a fountain comb, a hollow body, a row of teeth projectingoutwardly along one portion thereof, a wall subdividing the hollow bodyinto a liquid supply chamber and a liquid discharge chamber with a pumpreceiving bore disposed in alignment with said discharge chamber, thewall of said discharge chamber having ports opening between the teeth ofsaid row, a pump including a cylinder fitted and secured within saidbore and having an outlet communicating with said discharge chamber andan inlet communicating with said supply chamber, a piston mounted forlongitudinal reoiprocatory movement within said cylinder and having apassageway therethrough, a valve normally closing said inlet and adaptedto be opened by movement of the piston in one direction, a valve adaptedto open said passageway by movement of the piston in the oppositedirection, and said piston having heads at the opposite ends thereof,and manipulating means intermediate the said heads protruding throughslotsI in said body and cylinder for manually actuating said piston.

7. In a fountain comb, a hollow body, a row of teeth projectingoutwardly along one portion thereof, a wall subdividing the hollow bodyinto a liquid supply chamber and a liquid discharge chamber with a pumpreceiving bore disposed in alignment with said vdischarge chamber, thewall of said discharge chamber having ports opening between the teeth ofsaid row, a pump including a cylinder fitted and secured within saidbore and having an outlet communicating with said discharge chamber andan inlet cornrnunicating with said supply chamber, a piston mounted forlongitudinal reciprocatory movement within said cylinder and having apassageway therethrough, a valve normally closing said inlet and adaptedto be opened by movement of the piston in one direction, a valve adaptedto open said passageway by movement of the piston in the oppositedirection, said piston having heads at the opposite ends thereof,manipulating means intermediate the said heads protruding through slotsin said body and cylinder for manually actuating said piston, and saidbody having an air inlet valve opening into the supply chamber adaptedto be moved to open relation for admit ting air to the supply chamber bysuction created by the pumping of the liquid from said chamber.

CHARLES M. HICKEY.

